Theresa May and Ken Clarke in new row on knife sentencing

Thursday 20 October 2011 11:17 BST

Theresa May and Ken Clarke are locked in a new Cabinet row over sentences for teenagers who wield knives, The Standard has learned.

The Home Secretary is backing automatic custodial sentences for under-18s who threaten people with a knife, it is understood. But Justice Secretary Mr Clarke is opposing the mandatory detention of younger teenagers.

Today London Mayor Boris Johnson intervened in the row by backing calls from London MPs to lower the age for an automatic custodial sentence for using a knife to threaten or endanger life from 18 to 15.

The Mayor piled pressure on the Prime Minister to reconsider the Government's current plans to exclude under 18s. He told The Standard: "I believe in tougher sentences on knife crime. The police are very sensible - they wouldn't be calling for this if it didn't make sense.

"I also, in principal, support extending these sentences to include under 18s, but there are additional considerations we need to factor in to make sure this is implemented successfully. In short, the message needs to be clear that carrying knives results in a long prison term regardless of age."

MPs stress that many knife crimes in the capital are committed by 15, 16 and 17-year-olds. Ms May is said to have voiced support for lowering the age at which teenagers go to a youth detention centre. The Home Office declined to comment.

But the Ministry of Justice defended the Government's current proposals for automatic sentences of at least six month on knife crime to be limited to adults. "Prison sentences are always available for serious knife offences whether they are committed by adults or by young people," said one of Mr Clarke's aides. "The most serious offences will receive jail sentences. It's up to the judge and the court to decide in each individual case."

However, nearly 40 MPs are backing a proposed amendment drawn up by Tory MP Nick de Bois to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, to be debated next week, which would impose automatic sentences on 15, 16 and 17-year-olds.

Mr Clarke and Ms May clashed at the Tory annual rally earlier this month over whether a cat had helped an illegal immigrant avoid deportation.